Ken Ferguson - Bracker's Good Earth Clays

KEN FERGUSON
Ken Ferguson, a locally loved and internationally reknown potter, teacher, and mentor, passed away on December 30th, 2004. Ken influenced the lives and artwork of countless potters during his 32-year tenure as chair of the ceramics department at the Kansas City Art Institute, as well as through hundreds of workshops around the world. We loved and respected Ken not only as one of the "Gods" of modern pottery, but also as a friend. When Sophie was born, Ken became her honorary Grandpa because Bill wasn't around to do that for her (Bill Bracker passed away in 1993). Cindy and Dave were looking forward to showing off Ken's latest honorary grandchild to him. It seems like providence that Daphne was born on the same day that Ken died. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gertrude, Ken's wife of over 50 years, his sons and daughter, and his many, many friends, students, and collegues.
The obituary in the Kansas City Star newspaper can be found here.
The Kansas City Star hosts a guestbook for comments about Ken. Please share your thoughts and comments for Ken's friends and family here.
	At the 2005 NCECA Conference in Baltimore, Maryland (during the week of March 12th), we will unveil a special silicone rubber bracelet (similar to the Lance Armstrong Livestrong bracelets) debossed with "Support Your Local Potter." (click on the picture to purchase the bracelet.) A portion of the profits from the sale of these bracelets will be donated to the Kenneth R. Ferguson Foundation (admistrated by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation) to benefit the arts in the Kansas City area. Additional donations may be sent to: Kenneth Richard Ferguson Foundation Fund c/o Greater Kansas City Community Foundation 1055 Broadway, Suite 130 Kansas City, MO 64106
Read the March issue of Ceramics Monthly for recollections on Ken. "Ken Ferguson: A Remembrance - William Shapiro, Anne M. Bracker and Cindy Bracker pay tribute to a friend and ceramics icon." Shown below are thoughts on Ken Ferguson written by Anne and Cindy, as seen in Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Production Practices.
Anne M. Bracker remembers:
I was in high school, working part-time at the family supply business, when I first met Ken Ferguson. I didn't really have a true understanding of the fact that many potters looked up to him as one of the Gods of ceramics. To me, he was just another teacher and friend of my parents. He was a little gruff and kind of blunt, but he was nice to me. Each time he came to our store, he would spend a few minutes talking with me. I appreciated the fact that he talked to me like I was an adult, not just the young daughter of the Brackers. Over the next few years, I got to know him better and quickly realized there was a giant teddy bear inside Ken. But I was also confused. Students from the Art Institute would come to buy supplies from us and I'd hear comments about how rough Ken was on them. He was demanding and critical and tough. The students weren't seeing the same Ken Ferguson that I was. I finally figured it out at the 1994 NCECA conference in New Orleans. I ran into Ken at a cafe in the hotel, surrounded by several of his former students. The discussion was animated and jovial and I could tell that these students finally knew the same teddy bear Ken that I did. As Ken introduced me to the students, he was able to tell me not only their names, but when they graduated and some of what they'd been doing since graduation. Each one of them chimed in with some story about how Ken had personally fought to get them into a certain grad school or helped them find a job teaching or convinced another potter to take them on as an apprentice. And it then became obvious to me that these former students had come to realize Ken was as rough and tough as he was to help make them better, more disciplined, more creative potters. I have heard hundreds of stories like that over the years. Many people talk about the impact Ken had on the world of ceramics and ceramic education, but it's Ken's impact on each individual potter that strikes me as his living legacy. -Anne M. Bracker
Cindy Bracker remembers:
"He sure is getting crotchety!" That was the first thing I can remember hearing about Ken Ferguson, spoken by the King of "Crotchety," my Dad (Bill Bracker). Perhaps that was why they got along so well. As a child, I was always a bit nervous around the "crotchety" Mr. Ferguson. As I became an adult, however, I began to see a very different side of him - a side that I believe too few people have seen from him. Several years ago, shortly after David and I had announced our engagement, Dave was at Ken's house working on Ken's hopeless and much-in-need-of-replacement kiln. After Dave had finished the repair, Ken sat Dave down and became very serious. Ken prefaced his statement by telling Dave that since my Dad was no longer around, he felt it fell upon him to make sure Dave took good care of me. He then proceeded to tell David exactly what fate would befall him if he hurt me in any way. Given Ken's "crotchety-ness," you can probably imagine what those choice words were - they certainly are not repeatable in mixed company! I was touched by his fatherly and protective attitude toward me. But the fondest memory I have of Ken happened after the birth of Sophie. Ken was at Bracker's, crotchetily complaining about how his children had not given him any grandchildren yet. Holding Sophie at the time, I pointed out that she was short one grandfather, and he, having no grandchildren, might be a perfect match. I think it was the first time I ever saw Ken speechless. I asked him if he would like to hold her. As she sat on his lap, I saw a genuine tear in his eye and he didn't need to say a word for me to know how he felt. As I write this, I have genuine tears in my eyes and many streaming down my cheeks as well. Since I'm currently on my 3rd week of maternity leave, it would be easy to blame my emotions on post-partum hormones. But as I look down at my newest little angel, Daphne, who was born on the exact day of Ken's passing, I notice a bit of crotchety-ness in her face. And although I suspect a bit of "spirit exchange" took place between Daphne and Ken on that day and that he will live on for me through her, I must admit that the tears on my face are from the loss I feel from the passing of another great - albeit crotchety - artist and wonderful human being. Ken Ferguson will certainly be missed. -Cindy Bracker

Getting Started at Our Web Site